Volume 29 (2010): Issue 1 (March 2010)

Patterns of the daily changes of the soil temperature in summer at three different ecosystems within the Słowiński National Park were analyzed. Strong correlation between the solar radiation and the soil temperature was found, particularly for the bare sandy surfaces, while the plant and humus cover hampers the solar energy flux to the soil. In the same way, correlations between the temperature of soil surface and the air temperature were computed. Finally, logarithmic models for the relationship between the global solar radiation and the soil surface temperature and between the soil surface temperature and the air temperature were constructed.

Several examples are provided here to quantify how the soil is influenced by the soil surface properties, i.e.: content and composition of organic matter, content of calcium carbonate, texture, moisture, as well as surface roughness. 28 soil samples were collected from the test area on a ground moraine, located north of Poznań. The soil samples were measured spectrally with an ASD FieldSpec 3 spectrophotometer in controlled laboratory conditions, in order to obtain a plot of the soil reflectance as a function of wavelength, from 400 nm to 2500 nm. The soil samples were also analyzed in the laboratory to establish their selected properties. The research shows that all tested soil properties strongly influence the soil reflectance.

The marginal zone of the Ragnar glacier has been divided into four zones: ice surface, proglacial lake, lateral moraine and frontal moraine complex. Detailed researches were carried out in the last one - frontal moraine complex consisting of three subzones: (1) outer moraine ridge, (2) culmination moraine ridge and (3) inner moraine plateau. The frontal moraine complex of the Ragnar glacier shows large variability of lithofacies and depositional processes. The aim of this study was to reconstruct the intensity and variability of depositional processes from early stage of the frontal ice-cored moraines creation till present situation. Debris flow processes, glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine sedimentation as well as aeolian activity and down- and backwasting are identified as most important processes. Intensity of these processes has varied through the time. Presently the frontal ice-cored moraine complex of the Ragnar glacier is relatively stable, except few areas affected by the river or streams.

The article presents the results of research on concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in fluvial sediment samples collected in the flood plains of the Odra River. The samples were collected from the presently flooded area and from the area which was formerly flooded. The extraction of sediment samples was conducted using aqua regia and four other extractants: 0.01M CaCl₂, 0.1M HCl, 0.005M DTPA and 0.02M EDTA. The analysis of the results revealed different concentration values for particular sample collection sites situated along the course of the Odra River. The differentiation of metal concentrations in the investigated samples depending on the extractants was also observed. The concentrations of metals were determined using the technique of atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomization (F-AAS).

The primary objective of the study was to elaborate a synthetic topoclimatic map of the area of the Słowiński National Park (SNP). The spatial scopes of individual types of topoclimate were distinguished using the method proposed by Paszyński (1999). Pursuant to this method, the topoclimatic classification - and subsequently topoclimatic charting - is performed on the basis of an analysis of the exchange of energy between the atmosphere and its base. The research conducted allowed us to determine that the SNP contains 12 types of local climate, and also to designate the spatial scopes thereof.

This paper concerns the dependent relationships between map compilation, map reading, and cartographic design with special regard to thematic mapping. The first step is to measure the simple relationship between cartographic practice and map design and present a pyramid of pragmatic thematic mapping. The model contains various types of maps, a range of cartographic principles, and sources of knowledge for map design. When presented as a pyramid, these functional dependencies can refer to a series of pragmatic criteria which relate to the use of thematic maps.

Geomorphological and basic sedimentological investigation of controlled moraine system was carried out at the ice surface and within the moraine complex zone of the Hørbye glacier (Central Spitsbergen). The Hørbye glacier creates controlled moraine chains regarding transversal fractures and longitudinal foliation. The forms parallel to the ice flow direction are represented by medial moraines, whereas transversal ones by thrustmoraines. Both arrangements are clearly visible. However, thrust and shear planes are more effective in creating forms, both on the ice surface and in the moraine complex. The longitudinal landforms are less distinct, moreover they are coarser-grained and worse rounded, in contrast to the material from shear and thrust plains which is finer and better rounded. The study area can be divided into three subzones: clean ice surface, debris covered ice fractures and moraine complex. The outer and inner sandur plain were not taken under consideration. It is suggested that present arrangement of both thrust or shear plains and longitudinal foliation controls formation of foreland relief. This hypothesis has a particular sense in understanding construction of modern sedimentary basins as well as the mechanism of terminoglacial relief formation with regend to ice structure.

This study present indications of human impact on selected components of environment in the vicinity of Petunia Bay, Billefjorden, central Spitsbergen. The area is easy accessible and has low restriction of human activity so it is a need for monitoring of the human impact there. Three groups of objects were inventoried. Large-scale objects are attached to industrial impacts (mainly mining and transport of natural resources) - mines, warehouses, blocks. They are clustered around the west side of the bay - Pyramiden settlement. Medium-scale objects (mainly linear forms - path, tracks) were created by transport as well as scientific and tourist activity. Small-scale impacts (campsites, firesites) were created mainly by scientists and tourists and scattered around whole study area. Industrial activity in this area took place between 1927 and 1998, but its tracks are persistent and hard to remove. Scientific and tourist movements also started at the beginning of the XX century, but nowadays the activities become more and more intensive.

One of the important topics in the current discussion on causes of climatic changes is a proportion between natural and anthropogenic factors. The majority of climatologists are of the opinion that at present signs of the antropogenic factor are visible only on a local scale. An evaluation of the impact of this factor on a global scale will be possible in the future as more and more data on the physical parameters of Earth's atmosphere are to obtain using meteorological satellites.

The largest series of meteorological data, which currently constitute the basis of all analyses and forecasts concerning climate changes in the immediate and distant future, come from urban areas. The results of meteorological measurements are constantly influenced by the factor of municipal development, changes in the measurement locations within administrative borders, and also by variations resulting from the geographical location, the type of building development, and the colouring of the city. The city, depending on the dominant colour, and also on the colour of the surrounding area, does not always generate a urban heat island. There are areas around the globe, mainly in tropical latitudes, where the city is colder than the surrounding areas, which leads to the occurrence of a urban cold island.